Back
2.07.2023Bayer 04

Bayer 04 mourn the loss of Klaus Täuber

Klaus Täuber passed away at the age of 65 on Saturday. The striker, known as the ‘Boxer’ due to having the same birthday as Muhammad Ali and his physical approach to the game, won the UEFA Cup with Bayer 04 in 1988 playing an important role in Leverkusen's first title win on the European stage.
crop_imago0001745010h.jpg

Täuber, born in Erlangen in Bavaria, made his Bundesliga debut for FC Nürnberg in the 1978/79 season. He moved on to Schalke 04 via Stuttgarter Kickers and flourished as a striker with the Royal Blues. He joined Bayer 04 in 1987. In his first season playing for the Black and Reds, Täuber made 23 Bundesliga appearances and scored six goals. The left-footer had his biggest success with the Werkself that season in the UEFA Cup.

After a 3-0 defeat against Espanyol in the first leg of the final, Bayer 04 entertained the Spanish side in Leverkusen. Täuber came off the bench on 62 minutes with the scoreline at 1-0 in place of Tita who was on a yellow card. A minute later he provided the cross for Falko Götz to double the lead at 2-0. The Werkself scored a third to take the game into extra time and penalties. Täuber converted the crucial spot-kick to win the UEFA Cup.

He started the next season at Bayer 04 but was forced to end his career due to injury in November 1988. Following his playing career, he worked as a coach including with the Schalke Reserves and Schwarz-Weiß Essen. Klaus Täuber passed away on Saturday at the age of 65.

Related News

Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.03.2026

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn’s March highlights

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…

Show more
Fanclub-Ehrung mit Fernando Carro in der Halbzeit
Fans - 28.02.2026

Bayer 04 honour six fan clubs for decades of loyalty at Mainz game

From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.

Show more
Late goal secures point against Mainz | 24th matchday
Werkself-TV - 28.02.2026

TV highlights of 1-1 draw against Mainz 05

Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...

Alejandro Grimaldo
Bundesliga - 28.02.2026

1-1 draw with Mainz 05 - late strike secures a point

A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').

Show more
Sondertrikot
Bayer 04 - 28.02.2026

Love that lasts a lifetime. Bayer 04 present special edition jersey marking 50th anniversary of fan clubs Under the Cross

It is an expression of solidarity and a tribute to the unique fan culture Under the Cross: Bayer 04 Leverkusen make a special statement with the "50 Years of Fan Clubs" jersey. To mark the founding of the "First Fan Club 1976 Leverkusen", which was followed by many more over the years right up to the present day, the Bundesliga club is commemorating 50 years of passion with this new jersey. Highs and lows, successes celebrated together as well as defeats suffered are manifested in this piece of white fabric, a symbol of unwavering identification with the Werkself.

Show more